A month-long action plan has been drawn up to clear pending land conversion applications in Ernakulam.

District Collector G. Priyanka issued directions at a special meeting called to discuss measures to speed up the conversion process.

The pending applications will be processed on a priority basis between July 1 and 30. For the smooth implementation of the action plan, a special meeting of village officers and agriculture officers will be convened by July 30, the Collector said.

So far, as many as 76,800 land conversion applications have been processed in the district. A total of 59,937 applications are pending in various taluks. Of these, 14,606 cases are pending in Kanayannur taluk, 12,011 cases in Aluva, 11,274 cases in Paravur, 8,906 cases in Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha taluks, 8,879 cases in Kunnathunadu, and 4,261 cases in Fort Kochi.

In cases where applications are rejected by agriculture officers, geo-tagged images of the respective places should be mandatorily given as a record. The meeting also ordered that a suit register be maintained in all taluk offices to properly monitor cases pending in the court.

To address staff shortage, clerks and junior superintendents will be redeployed as per the requirements of Deputy Collectors. The Collector also said that officials would be given clear targets on specific days of the week, and that they would be allowed to work from home.